'The Old Saucy Seventh, or Queen's Own Regt of Lt. Dragoons', 1809

Recruiting poster, 1809.

The 7th (or The Queen's Own) Regiment of (Light Dragoons) had served in Sir John Moore's Spanish campaign of 1808-1809. His army was forced to retreat and was evacuated by sea from Corunna in January 1809. The regiment suffered heavy casualties in the campaign and 70 more men were lost when the troopship taking them home was shipwrecked off the Cornish coast. On its return to England the regiment began recruiting to replace the losses.